IMPATIENS. 



THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



IOXOPSIDIUM. 601 



of N. America, /. floridanum bearing 

 fragrant flowers of a deep red, like those 

 of the Carolina Allspice. I. religiosum, 

 also known as I. anisatum, from China 

 and Japan, with pale yellow flowers, is 

 also interesting, if not worthy of general 

 culture. It may be grown against walls 

 in warm localities. 



IMPATIENS (Balsam}. The species 

 of Impatiens that thrive -in the open air are 

 all annual and hardy, and sow themselves 

 freely where they get a chance. The best 

 are the common I. glandulifera, which 

 attains a height of 4 to 6 ft., and bears 

 numerous flowers, varying in colour from 

 white to rose. It will soon take possession 

 of the shrubbery if not checked ; and it is 

 seen to advantage in cottage gardens. 

 I. longicornu is beautiful, and has the 

 same habit as glandulifera, but the lower 

 part of its helmet-shaped flowers is bright 

 yellow, marked by tranverse lines of dark 

 brown ; while the upper part is rose colour, 

 I. Roylei is much dwarfer than the pre- 

 ceding, and has blossoms of a deep rose. I . 

 cristata has light rose-coloured blossoms. 



I. balsamina (Garden Balsam} may be 

 grown in the open air, and makes a pretty 

 display in warm places. The plants 

 should be raised in a frame and trans- 

 planted. Soil which is too rich should be 

 avoided ; but soil manured for a previous 

 crop, and which has been well pulverised 

 by forking, gives the finest flowers and a 

 less sappy growth. Colours and markings 

 in any good and valued strain include the 

 following, and probably a few others, as 

 some sorts sport continually : Pure white, 

 buff-white, rosy- white, lavender- white, pale 

 mauve, peach, pink, carmine, scarlet-cerise, 

 crimson, violet, purple, purple-white blotch, 

 scarlet-white blotch and others. 



INCARVILLEA. Interesting shrub- 

 by plants, hardy only in southern counties. 

 There are few kinds. I. Delavayi has 

 lately come from China, and has proved 

 hardy, Mr. Thompson, of Ipswich, writing 

 that it has been a year or more in the 

 open border, having stood the full brunt 

 of a zero temperature. The flowers are 

 in corymbs, lengthening into racemes, and 

 like those of Bignonia grandiflora, twelve 

 or thirteen to a raceme, and delicate 

 rose or rose-pink in colour, the throat 

 yellow streaked with purple. Where it is 

 not happy out-of-doors it is worth growing 

 in the greenhouse. I. Olgas was intro- 

 duced earlier from Turkestan and has 

 purple flowers ; it grows from 3 to 4^ ft. 

 high. 



INDIGOFERA. /. Gerardiana is a 

 pretty plant which may be grown as a bush 

 or against a wall, which it clothes grace- 



fully with feathery leaves, towards the close 

 of summer, bearing small Pea-like bright 

 pink blooms. In cold districts it may be 

 well to give it protection in cold winters if 

 not against a wall, and the only attention 

 it requires is close pruning in early winter. 

 The kinds known as I, floribunda, I. 

 coronillaefolia, and by other names, are 

 either synonymous with I. Gerardiana or 

 varieties of it. I. decora, from China, is 

 sometimes grown against a wall in warm 

 parts, but is much less hardy than 

 I. Gerardiana, which comes from the 

 Himalayas. 



INULA. Perennial Composites, few of 

 which are important for the garden. I. 

 Helenium (Elecampane), a vigorous 

 British plant, 3 or 4 ft. high, with a stout 



Inula glandulosa 



stem, large leaves, and yellow flowers, is 

 well suited for planting with other large- 

 leaved plants, or in isolated specimens on 

 rough slopes or wild places, in good soil. 

 I. Oculus Christi grows IT? to 2 ft. high, 

 and bears orange flowers in summer. I. 

 salicina, montana, and glandulosa are 

 similar, the last being the finest. Easily 

 propagated by division or seed. 



IONOPSIDIUM ( Violet Cress). /. 

 acaule is a charming little Portuguese an- 

 nual about 2 in. high, whose dense tufts of 

 violet flowers spring up freely where plants 

 of it have existed the previous season. 

 Its peculiar beauty makes it useful for 

 various purposes. On the rock-garden, 

 associated with even the choicest of 

 alpine plants, it holds its own as regards 

 beauty, and never overruns its neighbours, 

 and it is particularly suitable for sowing 

 near pathways or rugged steps, growing 

 freely in such places ; indeed it would even 



